Pro-pot icon Chong encourages BC NDP membership drive

Tommy Chong, an actor who starred in several cannabis-centred comedy movies, is encouraging people to join the British Columbia New Democratic Party and support Dana Larsen for leader.

“You need to join the B.C. NDP and you need to join before January 17th,” Chong said in a video released today. “I urge all you Canadians to come and join the NDP and for one reason: Dana Larsen.”

Chong, who wrote a book about being jailed in California for selling bongs over the internet, appeared with comedy partner Cheech Marin in movies in the 1970s and 1980s including Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams and Still Smokin'. More recently he played the stoner character Leo on That '70s Show.

Larsen was a federal NDP candidate in 2008, but stepped down after Pot TV videos of him saying he was using drugs while driving surfaced on the internet.

B.C. party president Moe Sihota has suggested Larsen may not be eligible to run for the provincial leadership.

Here is Chong's full statement:

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.